Reforesting After Fire, With the Help of Horses

A team of people and four-legged helpers brings new life to Colorado’s San Juan National Forest

Drone photograph of the Dutch Creek planting area. (2021-09-15) by Jason Houston / American ForestsAmerican Forests

The 416 Fire was a 2018 forest fire so devastating that it left parts of Colorado’s San Juan National Forest with no seed-bearing conifers at all. One of the largest wildfires in the state’s history, the blaze burned more than 54,000 acres.

Landscapes near the confluence of Hermosa Creek and Dutch Creek. (2021-09-15) by Jason Houston / American ForestsAmerican Forests

Some of the worst damage occurred around Dutch Creek, a place famous for its trees, including its “champion” trees — the largest of their kind in the state. Dutch Creek feeds into Hermosa Creek, which is essential for agricultural irrigation in the surrounding region.

Nature near the confluence of Hermosa Creek and Dutch Creek. (2021-09-15) by Jason Houston / American ForestsAmerican Forests

The fire was so hot in the Dutch Creek area that trees there died simply from the heat, not even from the flames. 
 
“The whole watershed just got toasted,” said Gretchen Fitzgerald, a former forester for the San Juan National Forest. “It was just so hot; it cooked the needles off ‘em.”

Gretchen Fitzgerald, forester with the US Forest Service. (2021-09-15) by Jason Houston / American ForestsAmerican Forests

After the fire, Fitzgerald designed a program to plant thousands of trees and shrubs along Dutch Creek to reforest the area. Robust tree cover has the benefit of cooling the water, maintaining the snowpack, reducing erosion and protecting water supplies for fish and people.

Preparing to load various shrub seedlings on packhorses. (2021-09-15) by Jason Houston / American ForestsAmerican Forests

The goal of the project was to plant 3,000 Ponderosa pines, blue spruce and Douglas-fir, along with another 119 shrubs — alder, red osier, dogwood and serviceberry.

Gretchen Fitzgerald, forester with the US Forest Service, packing tree and shrub seedlings on horseback. (2021-09-15) by Jason Houston / American ForestsAmerican Forests

Fitzgerald had planted some 2 million trees in this forest. Most were close to the road due to the difficulty of bringing seedlings into deep forest. This time was different: The burned area was so remote that the team had to use horses to transport the seedlings for planting. 

Transporting tree and shrub seedlings on horseback. (2021-09-15) by Jason Houston / American ForestsAmerican Forests

The horses, on loan from a local outfitter, were placid about their task, though they did try to eat the plants on each other’s backs.

Austin Rempel, Forest Restoration Manager at American Forests, discussing planting techniques with the Southwest Conservation Corps planting team. (2021-09-15) by Jason Houston / American ForestsAmerican Forests

The horses were joined by a crew from Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC), an organization that provides young adults and veterans with opportunities for service and education on public lands in southern Colorado and northern New Mexico.

Field tech, Joseph Bogart, planting shrub seedlings. (2021-09-15) by Jason Houston / American ForestsAmerican Forests

The crew received detailed instructions for planting: “It’s better to go deeper than too shallow,” said Fitzgerald. “Do microsite planting. Plant on the north to northeast side of the tree.”

Austin Rempel, Forest Restoration Manager at American Forests, discussing planting techniques with the Southwest Conservation Corps planting team. (2021-09-15) by Jason Houston / American ForestsAmerican Forests

American Forests' staff also helped to provide a demonstration of planting techniques and how to use a hoedaad, a three-foot, L-shaped tool used to dig planting holes.

Emma Bernstein planting tree seedlings. (2021-09-15) by Jason Houston / American ForestsAmerican Forests

Then the crew got to work putting thousands of trees and shrubs into the ground.

Isabel Slaymaker with the Southwest Conservation Corps planting seedlings. (2021-09-15) by Jason Houston / American ForestsAmerican Forests

Hoedads were swinging.

Nathanial Knaver with the Southwest Conservation Corps planting seedlings. (2021-09-15) by Jason Houston / American ForestsAmerican Forests

Trees were finding their new homes…

Recently planted seedling. (2021-09-15) by Jason Houston / American ForestsAmerican Forests

… and began to stand on their own.

Forest near the confluence of Hermosa Creek and Dutch Creek. (2021-09-15) by Jason Houston / American ForestsAmerican Forests

At the end of each long day of work, the crew members were as fulfilled as they were exhausted. Their painstaking efforts brought new life to a scorched landscape and will ensure that Dutch Creek thrives for generations to come.

Credits: Story

American Forests

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
Explore more

Interested in Natural history?

Get updates with your personalized Culture Weekly

You are all set!

Your first Culture Weekly will arrive this week.

Google apps